It's days before giant-killing Barnet Ladies meet high-flying Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Women's Cup, but some of the girls got a feel of the coveted silverware for a get-together of Bees when they joined Paul Fairclough's League 2 squad after Monday morning training.

 

Come to think of it, the lads got their hands on the trophy too. For Barnet Ladies manager Tracey Kevins arranged with cup sponsors Nationwide to give the competition a boost with a photo opportunity at the training ground near St Albans. A security firm delivered the trophy to St Albans - after an initial error of the FA Cup going to Underhill.

 

Stacey Sowden, Barnet Ladies' 26-goals this season striker, fresh from scoring four against bottom-of-the-table Sophtlogic in a 9-1 win at the weekend, met Bees marksman Giuliano Grazioli. Ashley Hutton, a full Northern Ireland international, put in a request to meet fellow countryman Richard Graham (a former Northern Ireland under-21 choice).

 

 

 

 

And, to the consternation of Paul Fairclough, who hopes to give the girls a pep talk before their big game against Liverpool at the Hanwell Town ground at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the girls enjoyed a sausage and chips lunch.

 

With the ladies' manager and captain Charlie Henson were Sowden, Hutton, Katia Wicka and Tina Keech. Tracey Kevins, incidentally, is one of a handful of women to gain a UEFA A badge in competition with some 'name' men coaches.

 

 

Tracey cheerily describes Barnet as "severe underdogs" in the last 16. Even though Liverpool are top of the Premier League North - a league up from the Bees - there are other awesome opponents still on the Cup trail.

 

Graham Slyper, the director of Barnet Sports Development responsible for liaison with Barnet Ladies, and Dennis Signy, Barnet FC PR consultant, were at the training ground for what Tracey Kevins described as 'a great experience for the girls - it was appreciated'.